Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Koyasan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koyasan or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Koyasan and Suzhou. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Koyasan or Suzhou?
Koyasan
Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.
Suzhou
Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture, featuring elaborate canals and bridges. Located on the Yangtze Delta, the city consists largely of waterways making Suzhou a kind of 'Venice of the Orient.' It is also a hub for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoyasan $78Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Koyasan is $78, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $101. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koyasan and Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoyasan $39Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoyasan $78Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Koyasan and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Koyasan or Suzhou? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koyasan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koyasan $33Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Exploration with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
- Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Arrival Transfer: Suzhou Train Station to Hotels in Suzhou: $44
- Private Day Tour: Suzhou Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $227
- Private Departure Transfer to Shanghai Airport from Suzhou City Hotel: $68
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Suzhou Garden and Water Town Highlight Trip with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $240
- Private Transfer from Suzhou to Hangzhou City Area : $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Koyasan or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou and Koyasan change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKoyasan $19Suzhou $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Suzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Suzhou.
- Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour With Locals: $55
- Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option: $123
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koyasan $13Suzhou $9.32
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- Suzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service : $65
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options : $70
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $71
- Suzhou Private English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Suzhou Private Walking Tour with Panmen Gate, City Moat and Yiyuan Garden: $101
- Wuxi Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car : $103
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- Wuzhen and Xitang Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options : $123
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- Private Flexible Suzhou Day Tour with Old and New Highlights: $127
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
- Private Suzhou City Amazing Day Tour in Your Way : $127
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoyasan $4.89Suzhou $6.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koyasan and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is Koyasan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koyasan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koyasan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Suzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Suzhou than you might in Koyasan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koyasan Expensive? and Is Suzhou Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Suzhou?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Koyasan or Suzhou in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Suzhou. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Koyasan is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Suzhou this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Suzhou during summer. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.
Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoyasan 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Suzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Suzhou. The autumn months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Koyasan is around the same temperature as Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Koyasan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun.
Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koyasan usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoyasan 19°C (65°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Suzhou in the Winter?
Both Suzhou and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Suzhou. In the winter, Koyasan is a little warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koyasan in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Koyasan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Suzhou during winter. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoyasan 6°C (42°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Suzhou in the Spring?
Both Suzhou and Koyasan during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In April, Koyasan is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 15°C (59°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In the spring, Koyasan often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun.
Suzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. Koyasan usually gets more rain in April than Suzhou. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoyasan 15°C (59°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Koyasan
| Koyasan | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 208 mm (8.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.